Tim Hardaway Jr. talked about understanding where he fit in with an established team, saying he is going to do whatever he can to help the team win. / Louis Lanzano/Associated Press

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Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

As he toured the country, for more than a dozen workouts, he was classic Hardaway — staying consistent.

While others let outside elements (travel, etc.) affect their performance, he understood the importance of the predraft workouts.

On June 11, the former University of Michigan star worked out for the New York Knicks.

“It was just a feeling I had; I went into the workouts trying to play my best,” Hardaway said Thursday night, after the Knicks made him the No. 24 overall pick in the NBA draft. “The group we had myself, Pierre Jackson, Tony Snell, Glen Rice Jr., C.J. Leslie, Phil Pressey. It was really challenging and we competed. Everybody was out there competing and getting the best of each other and it worked out for me.”

When the Knicks looked at the draft board Thursday, just after finding out shooting guard J.R. Smith was opting out of his contract to become a restricted free agent, Hardaway fit well.

“We thought he was the best player, and that was the first criteria we wanted to look at,” Knicks executive vice president and general manager Glen Grunwald said in a knicks.com video from Thursday night. “The second criteria, in order of importance, could he contribute next year? Because we need players. We’re in a position we want to win right now and we don’t have a lot of time to develop those players. And the third criteria was positional, where we could use players. We only have two guards under contract at this time, so it’s good to have that position covered.

“It came down to being the best player available.”

Grunwald said they began checking off names on their list as the draft went on and Hardaway was the top remaining and they had him higher than No. 24 on their list.

Meeting with the Knicks’ media at their practice facility Friday, Hardaway talked about understanding where he fit with an established team of stars.

His father, Tim Sr., joined him in New York on Friday, hinting his son might look different than at Michigan.

“He’s an all-around player, he can flat-out shoot the basketball, he’s an athlete,” his father said on the knicks.com video. “I think a lot of people didn’t see how athletic he was because of the system that he played in, but the NBA is the system that is wide-open and you show your athleticism.”

As for Hardaway’s former Michigan teammate, Trey Burke, if he plays the same game he had at Michigan for the Utah Jazz, they’ll probably be thrilled. Minnesota drafted Burke at No. 9 and then traded him to the Jazz.

There’s a history of elite point guards in Utah.

“I’m sure you’ve seen it with John Stockton and guys like Deron Williams,” Burke said Thursday night after being picked by a team without a set point guard. “I think the winning mentality and the guy that’s going to work hard and make plays for this team. This is a new journey for me, but I’m looking forward to making an impact right away and helping this team go far.”